But whilst some in the media are saying it’s a huge loss and the facebook groups springing up in the wake of the news, you have to question how much of a loss he is to England and whether he would have been on the plane at all going to South Africa.
It also appears that he will now not add to his previous 115 caps as an England player or achieve another landmark is a glittering career of becoming the first England player to play in four world cups.
Beckham (above) has worn his heart on his sleeve for England for the past thirteen years scoring important goals such as his free-kick to help take England to the 2002 World Cup against Greece, the penalty to defeat Argentina in that world-cup and another free-kick to beat Ecuador in the 2006 World Cup. His tears when resigning the captaincy for England showed how much he loved playing for England and leading his country, something which all England fans admire.
Whilst many will say his experience would have been invaluable and his set-pieces could have changed games even former England internationals like Gary Lineker are saying Beckham isn’t a huge loss and some football pundits saying it's no loss at all. You also have to question whether experience and set-pieces would have been enough to take him to South Africa as England have a wealth of competition for the right and left wing positions, especially since Beckham seems to have lost that little bit of pace he did have.
If Beckham had gone to the world cup where would Capello play him? Gerrard, Lampard and Barry seem certainties in the middle and Michael Carrick impressed against Egypt. Lennon and Walcott have played a lot under Capello down the right and Milner has impressed this season and don’t forget Shaun Wright-Phillips or David Bentley.
Now Capello must turn his attention to that once taken right-wing slot with players injured, coming back from injury and some just not performing. Aaron Lennon may miss the rest of the season with injury, Theo Walcott (above) has started only seven games for Arsenal this season, Joe Cole is returning from injury and struggling to get in the Chelsea team and Shaun Wright-Phillips hasn’t been in best of form. Two players who have impressed are David Bentley who has played well since coming in for the injured Lennon and the other James Milner. Add to that other wingers in Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Adam Johnson and you have to question how big a loss Beckham is.
James Milner (above) may be the man to finally nail down that right-wing position that has been vacant ever since Beckham’s imposed international exile by Steve McLaren. The young Aston Villa winger has impressed this season playing out of position in the centre of midfield and whilst playing for England has appeared on the left wing and at right-back. He just may be the versatile player that England need in a small squad of twenty-three.
Beckham injury probably means the end of a marvellous England career spanning thirteen years. Whilst personally he wouldn’t have been on the plane to South Africa for me, he did inspire many and led his country by example and always gave his best.
However, England and Capello can now move on and leave the shadow of David Beckham behind them.
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